SPEECH BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF OSUN, OGBENI RAUF AREGBESOLA, AT THE PUBLIC PRESENTATION OF FOOTPRINTS SINCE 1931: THE STORY OF A NIGERIAN TEACHER AND POLITICIAN, THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF SENATOR MOJISOLUWA AKINFENWA AT AIRPORT HOTEL, IKEJA, ON THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2015
 
Protocols,
A GIANT’S FOOTPRINT
It gives me great pleasure to be here at the public presentation of Footprints Since 1931: The Story of a Nigerian Teacher and Politician, the autobiography of our revered father and political leader, Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa.
As the host governor of Baba Akinfenwa in our Osun homestead, though for an even holding in Lagos, I welcome you all to this event in celebration of our own but a citizen of the world, whom you have all come to honour with your distinguished presence.
Senator Akinfenwa is a great Nigerian, a Yoruba leader and the quintessential Ijesa who has paid his dues and left giant footprints on the sands of time in these 84 past years, and still counting.
Though he has been a teacher and politician (a rare combination in those days), Baba Akinfenwa rocked Ijesaland as the principal of Hope Grammar School, a no-nonsense disciplinarian, who became famous far and near as the embodiment of discipline and a mentor for secondary school pupils and teachers.
He continued on this path of greatness when he was appointed the Commissioner for Education under Chief Bola Ige’s administration in the Second Republic. He became even more famous as he superintended the formulation and successful implementation of the free education programme of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in the old Oyo State. Under that programme, new schools emerged overnight and teachers were recruited at the speed of light to accommodate the thousands of pupils who were given fresh opportunities to attend secondary school. Many of them were taken off apprenticeship where they were engaged in one vocational training or another. Today by the grace of God, they are professors, engineers, doctors, bankers, teachers and professionals in all walks of life.
In the heady days of the military, he was with the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), a broad coalition of intrepid warriors that fought to protect Yorubaland and the return of democracy. At the return of civil rule in 1999, Baba was one of the founders of Alliance for Democracy (AD) and on which platform he contested and won election into the Nigerian Senate, representing Osun East Senatorial District of Osun.
In the senate, he was a strong voice for the opposition in a house dominated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with their sulphurous and suffocating grip on the nation, the economy, the opposition and the Nigerian state.
The circumstances that led to the crisis in AD and his not being part of the metamorphosis of our political tendency into the All Progressives Congress (APC) can best be described as unfortunate. But Baba is a progressive at heart and has lived all his life to promote the progressive idea and cause. More importantly, he has been consistent. Though Baba has refused to move with the train, he has held forth at the AD, not swayed by pecuniary gains to hop into the doomed PDP vehicle. This is called integrity.
Indeed, he was one of the leaders of our party and our race I contacted before launching my governorship ambition. He received me most warmly and gave his unfettered blessing. He has also been one of our pillars of support, even in our most trying period.
His biography which has been captured in the book being presented here today, will no doubt be rich and will offer rare insight into the circumstances that shaped his politics; the influences that shaped his character and personality; the environment of his emergence, his habits, inspirations and never before known aspects of his life. It will afford us to see in a new light his strength and weakness as a human being.
All these have been captured and frozen in time for the benefits of scholars of politics, politicians and students of leadership to read and learn from.
It is therefore a great honour and privilege to present this book on a great achiever, a leader and an Ijesa icon who has given his all towards the building of a better Nigerian.
I thank the publishers, the author, his family and friends for the kind invitation to this event and wish us all a safe journey back to our various posts.
I thank you all for your kind attention.

Pictures of the Wife of Osun State Governor and Chief Host, Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola with her counterparts from Oyo, Mrs Florence Ajimobi and Mrs Feyisetan Fayose, at the High-Level Meeting on Female Genital Mutilation, at Aurora Event Center, Osogbo on Tuesday 10-11-2015

From left, Osun Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Rauf
Aregbesola; his wife/Chief Host, Sherifat; Wife of Oyo State
Governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi; and her Ekiti State counterpart, Mrs
Feyisetan Fayose, at the High-Level Meeting on Female Genital
Mutilation, at Aurora Event Centre, Osogbo on Tuesday 10-11-2015

From left, Wife of Osun State Governor and Chief Host, Mrs Sherifat
Aregbesola; her counterparts from Oyo, Mrs Florence Ajimobi and Mrs
Feyisetan Fayose, at the High-Level Meeting on Female Genital
Mutilation, at Aurora Event Center, Osogbo on Tuesday 10-11-2015

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his wife and Chief
Host, Sherifat; Wife of Oyo State Governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi;
Ekiti State Governor wife, Mrs Feyosetan Fayose and Special Adviser to
Imo State Governor in Charge of Programmes, Mrs Ngozi Adamadualoh.
Presenting gift to them is the United Nations Population Fund
representative, Mrs Ratideai Ndhlovu (right), at the High-Level
Meeting on Female Genital Mutilation, at Aurora Event Centre, Osogbo
on Tuesday 10-11-201

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his wife and Chief
Host, Sherifat; Wife of Oyo State Governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi;
Ekiti State Governor wife, Mrs Feyosetan Fayose and Special Adviser to
Imo State Governor in Charge of Programmes, Mrs Ngozi Adamadualoh.
Presenting gift to them is the United Nations Population Fund
representative, Mrs Ratideai Ndhlovu (right), at the High-Level
Meeting on Female Genital Mutilation, at Aurora Event Centre, Osogbo
on Tuesday 10-11-201

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbe‎sola has commended former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for prohibiting female genital mutilation in Nigeria.

The governor gave this commendation while speaking at a programme organised by‎ United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) and Shericare Foundation (SCARF) at the opening of a High-level meeting on female genital mutilation in Osogbo.

Aregbesola stated that if the former President has been alleged of not performing by majority of Nigerians, he must still be lauded for signing into law on 5th May 2015, the Female Genital Mutilation Laws.

He held that it must not go unnoticed that it was under the administration of Jonathan that it became a crime for anybody to mutilate the genital organ of a female in the name of circumcision or any other guise.

The governor described the practice as bad, borne out of primitive idea of the effort to continually dominate females in the society which must be stopped by all well-meaning Nigerians.

Aregbesola averred that government at all levels must ensure that they work towards the eradication of the act which has no advantage whatsoever.

He said, “If I have been saying that the former President has not done any good for the country like most people have been saying, I want to use this opportunity to commend the former President for just one good thing he has done on the female genital mutilation law.

“Former President Goodluck Jonathan did one good thing against Female Genital Mutilation, which makes it a crime for anybody to mutilate the genital organ, there is a law signed by him‎ on the 5th of May this year.

“Everybody must work hard to ensure that the practise is done away with, besides the damage it has done to women, it has create health challenges like acute urinary retention, delvery and child birth is affected, infection and many other complications.

“We have not established any scientific advantage let alone any religion supporting the practise. It is just an human design to suppress the other sex. We must all UNFPA and SCARF to tell our society that an end must be put to Female Genital Mutilation in our society and Nigeria”.

Earlier, the wife of the of the Osun Governor and the President of the Shericare Foundation (SCARF) Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola in her welcome address described female genital mutilation as primitive.

Mrs. Aregbesola stated that it is disturbing that the primitive practice is ‎prevalent in Osun, saying all hands will be on deck at ensuring that the archaic practice is eradicated in a no long distant time.

She chided the procedure of female genital mutilation which involves partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, noting that the procedures intentionally alter and cause injury to the female genital organ.

President of SCARF stated that the country has existing national policies and law banning female genital mutilation, adding that a recent survey conducted by United Nation Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) revealed a prevalence of 27percent for women ages 15-49 and 19.2percent for girls 0-14 years.

She added that if the present trends continue, two million, seven hundred and eighteen thousand girls born between 2010-2015 will be at risk of experiencing female genital mutilation by 2030.

She said, ” I thank you all for honouring the call to this notable and historic meeting on our collective drive to eradicate a practice that bear no good for girls and women.

“Our meeting here today will be the first in the series of high level collective efforts initiated by the UNFPA to eradicate female genital mutilation. Female genital cutting of female in our society is very disturbing”. She told the gathering.

Speaking also, the country representative of the UNFPA, Ms. Ratidzai Ndhlovu, charged Osun to work and ensure the eradication of the practice.

She stressed that‎ Osun has the highest prevalence rate of 7.6percent followed by Oyo state with 7.2percent rate.

The UNFPA boss added that it is important for the wives of governors in the country and other stakeholders to ensure strict compliance with the existing law on female genital mutilation and also the stepping up of advocacy.

‎In attendance was the wife of the Oyo state governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, the wife of the governor of Ekiti State, Mrs Feyi Fayose, representative of the wife of the governor of Lagos, Imo and Ebonyi, Iyaloja of Osun, Alhaja Awawu Asindemade among others.

Government of Osun State has offered fi­nancial relief pack­age of N31 million to the victims of a fire outbreak that engulfed Atakumosa Market, Ilesa.
The market, which is the biggest in Ilesa town, was caught by fire on Sun­day, August 9, 2015, leaving shops and goods worth millions of naira destroyed.
Presenting cheques to some of the victims running to hundreds last Thursday, the Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola said the relieve package was aimed at cush­ioning the effect of the in­ferno on the victims and the economy.
Represented by the Chair­man, Ilesa West Local Gov­ernment, Alhaji Azeez Ad­esiji, the governor said the market would be rebuilt to meet international standard.
According to him, the relieve package was offered to the victims due to the concern of his administra­tion to the plight of the citi­zenry and in line with its commitment to see to the peoples’ welfare.
He said: “In spite of the economic situation in Osun, we still consider it necessary to support the traders who were the vic­tims of the inferno.
“This government will continue to do everything possible to make lives meaningful to the people, no matter the distraction”, he said.
The Leader of the State House of Assembly, Hon­ourable Timothy Owoeye who represents Ilesa East constituency commended the governor for showing concern to the welfare of the people in spite of the economic situation.
NATIONAL MIRROR

Pictures of the newly installed Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Rasheed Adewale Akanbi acknowledging cheers from the people of Iwo  during his Turbaning/Installation, at Oluwo Palace, Iwo, State of Osun, on Monday 9/11/2015.

Newly installed Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Rasheed Adewale Akanbi being installed
by Sobaloju of Iwoland, Chief Safiriyu Aremu, during the
Turbaning/Installation of the new Oluwo of Iwo, at Oluwo Palace, Iwo,
State of Osun on Monday 9/11/2015.

Newly installed Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Rasheed Adewale Akanbi atop vehicle
acknowledging cheers from the people of Iwo during his
Turbaning/Installation, at Oluwo Palace, Iwo, State of Osun, on Monday
9/11/2015.

Newly installed Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Rasheed Adewale Akanbi (2nd left);
Secretary to Osun Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (3rd left);
Director of Bureau of Communication and Strategy Office of the
Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon ( left); Former House of Assembly
Member, Hon Esikiel Adedibu (2nd right) and others, during the
Turbaning/Installation of the new Oluwo of Iwo, at Oluwo Palace, Iwo,
State of Osun on Monday 9/11/2015.

The ancient city of Iwo stood still on Monday when the Oluwo-elect, Prince Abdul-rasheed Adewale Akanbi entered triumphantly in to the town for the installation process.

Major streets in the city, witnessed heavy traffic jam as the convoy of the Oluwo snaked through Ori-eru, Odo-ori, Ile-omosan and Ojaba axis of the city where people lined up the streets to welcome the new Monarch.

‎The installation ceremony followed the approval of the appointment of the new monarch by Osun Government after the completion of due process by the king makers.

The Oluwo-elect in an Open roof Lexus Sport Utility Vehicle raising his clutched fists to acknowledge cheers from people after about  three hours ‎drive to get to the palace was turbaned by League of Imam and Alfas led by sheik Imran Adio.

The turbaning ceremony ‎was followed by the symbolic traditional decoration of the Monarch with “Akoko” leaf by the Oosa of Iwo Kingdom, Chief Bello Orobimpe.

Traditional gunshots rented the air by Iwo traditionalists heralding the reign of ‎the new Oluwo of Iwo thus signalling the completion of first phase of the Monarch traditional rights.

The Oluwo-elect after the turbaning ceremony was led by traditionalists and chiefs to the “Ile Onto” to continue further installation rights before the crowning of‎ Prince Abdul-rasheed Adewale Akanbi.

Speaking after the installation ceremony, Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti stated that the day is an historical day in the ancient town.

He held that the recent happening in Iwo is another indication of the commitment of the Aregbesola administration to one of his six-point integral plans of promotion of communal peace and progress.

‎Adeoti said, “I salute the courage and understanding of all, this day is historic in the sense that Iwo in about three years ago was without a king, but we are happy that this day of a new king has come.

“We need the cooperation of all and sundry, I call on everybody to join hands with the new monarch in the task to build the town. Iwo can not afford to stand still, we must strive as we enter a new era to develop our Land.

“I call on the people of Iwo most especially youths ‎to rally round the new monarch and the state government for the development of Iwoland, the state and the country at large”. The SSG emphasised.

Dignitaries at the installation ceremony included, the Asiwaju of Iwoland and former Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Gbadegesin Adedeji, Former Commissioner for Agriculture, old Oyo state, Alhaji Bola Asafa, Octogenarian and Ekerin Oluwo, Otunba Ganiyu Aremu, Former Special Adviser to Governor Aregbesola on Health, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu, among others.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Raruf Aregbesola, accompaning by the
Site Engineer, Ogundele Adedamola on the inspection tour of the
on-going constriction site of Osogbo High School on Monday 19-10-2015.

Tells Contractors To Sit Up

All ongoing projects, including the mega-schools in Osun are to be completed as scheduled. This was the assurance given by the G‎overnor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola after his assessment tour of the projects at the weekend.

A statement by the Bureau of Communication and Strategy, signed by its Director, Semiu Okanlawon, quoted the governor as stating this during an unscheduled inspection tour of the ongoing construction sites of Ilesa High School.

He was quoted as directing all the contractors of the ultra-modern schools across the state to accelerate work in their various sites.
Aregbesola noted that it would be unfortunate and regrettable if the contractors handling school projects failed to complete and hand-over the schools to the state within the agreed period.
He added that schools under construction are financed with the Sukuk bond, saying there is no excuse for the contractors not to accelerate work pace.
The Governor had earlier in the week also visited Community Elementary/Middle School, Dada Estate, Osogbo High School, Ataoja School of Science, Osogbo and New Model High school in Ede.
For any contractor slowing down on their site, the governor gave stern warnings noting that his government, despite the financial meltdown, was poised to fulfil its electioneering promises.‎

The governor stated that he will leave no stone unturned to ensure that all the on-going school projects were delivered in no distant time to enhance the reclassification exercise of the state government.‎
Aregbesola charged the contractors to keep the contractual agreement with the state government by using the recommended materials for the school building project, noting that government will not shift ground on the set requirement for the projects.
He chided contractors for what he described as slow pace of work on site, pointing out that he would continually be paying unscheduled visit to site to ensure that contracts awarded by government are properly monitored.
The governor frowned at the contractors handling Osogbo and Ilesa High schools, noting that the pace of work by the contractors are too slow as most of the expected works at the sites were not encouraging.‎
On Osogbo High School, he said, “what I met here today was not impressive at all and I am disappointed in the snail pace of work on this site.
“I have been coming here several times but met the work stagnant as no tangible progress could be said to have been made by the handlers of the school building.
“The site for football pitch has not been cleared. The administrative building has not been completed. The school structure remained stagnant,” Aregbesola lamented.
Aregbesola added that it is unfortunate that the school project expected to be completed and commissioned for use soonest has been delayed due to insensitivity and lack of diligence by the contractor.
He said, “It is unfortunate and regrettable that some of our projects are being handled slowly but notwithstanding we will do all we could to ensure a speedy and possibly accelerated implementation as I am personally ready to tour across all the ongoing projects in the state.
“Our government will spare no effort in its bid to reposition the state most especially the education sector as we are bent and irrevocably ready to provide necessary facilities and equipment to aide teaching and learning process through conducive atmosphere,” The governor pointed out at the site.
He therefore directed contractors of all the ongoing projects to expedite action that will facilitate quick implementation of projects, saying government will henceforth not hesitate to revoke the contracts for any non-performing contractor.

Prince Rasheed Adewale Akanbi is from Molaasan Compound of Gbaase Ruling House in Isale Oba in Iwo. He was born on the 21^st June 1967 in Iwo.
For his Elementary School, Prince Akanbi attended Omolewa Nursery and Primary School, Oritamefa, Ibadan (1972-1978), he proceeded to Iwo Grammar School, Araromi, Iwo (1978-1982) and later, Oba Akinyele Memorial High School, Idi-Ape Ibadan.
Prince Akanbi obtained a B.Sc. Business Administration from George Brown College, Toronto, Ontario (2005-2009), Ordinary National Diploma in Mass Communication from The Polytechnic Ibadan (1985-87), Certificate in Cybis & Axis System, Convergys Institute, Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada (2001-2005), Seismic certificate in Operations, Oil and Gas Processing Facilities (2005).
He worked as a Data Processor, Bio-skin GMBH in Hamburg Germany (1996-2005), International Development Analyst (Oxfam Canada); travelling to help war and disaster stricken countries around the world by supplying and supporting refugees with relief materials.
Prince Akanbi also worked as Associate Supervisor, Purdy Wharf Towers, Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada.
He is the Chief Executive Officer of Prince Enterprises, Toronto, Ontario M5H4E7 Canada, Director and Founder of People Against Loneliness Inc. 508-58 Waterson Road, Toronto Ontario, Canada, West Africa Coordinator (Karcher Group FutureTech) presently working on supply of future technology on peace keeping force to the Defence Ministry and Managing Director, Morganz Gamo Quarry, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Podo Village, Ibadan.
Prince Akanbi speaks Yoruba, English, French and Deutsche (German).
 

The Governor , State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola with the Speaker, House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salam and others, during the inspection of the ongoing construction of the Osun House of Assembly Pavilion, at House of Assembly Complex, Osogbo, at the weekend

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left); Speaker House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salam (second left) and others, during the inspection of the ongoing construction of the Osun House of Assembly Pavilion, at House of Assembly Complex, Osogbo, at the weekend

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle); Speaker House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salam (left), House of Assemble Member, Ede North constituency, Hon. Debo Akanni (right) and others, during the inspection of the ongoing construction of the Osun House of Assembly Pavilion, at House of Assembly Complex, Osogbo, at the weekend

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right); Speaker House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salam (left) and others, during the inspection of the ongoing construction of the Osun House of Assembly Pavilion, at House of Assembly Complex, Osogbo, at the weekend

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right); Speaker House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salam (left) and others, during the inspection of the ongoing construction of the Osun House of Assembly Pavilion, at House of Assembly Complex, Osogbo, at the wrekend

Please find attached the statement announcing the appointment of a new Oluwo of Iwo. He is Prince Rasheed Adewale Akanbi.